The writers of this collection of essays may represent different religions, but they represent one thought: globalization is bad. Their idea is not so much to subvert greed but to subvert capitalism, which they would see as being the same thing. This is less about personal responsibility than corporate greed. On the surface, while the essayists may be coming from various points of view, in fact, they have one. Far from promoting diversity and having a dialogue, this book does the opposite. It tells but one story, and one side of that story. It says that capitalism causes poverty, and that something else must take its place. All right. So, what is it? And how will it work?

In the last 200 years, many religious groups have tried to start their own economic societies, usually based on some kind of communalism. And most of these have disappeared. The grand experiment of the Soviet Union and other forms of forced communalism also collapsed from their own weaknesses and failings.

What these writers offer is the usual Ivory Tower approach, somehow trying to persuade or even force the rest of us into their way of thinking and living. All without a lot of details of how this would work out for Joe and Jane Lunchbucket in Peoria.

As I noted, this is less about individual greed and more about the effect, real and perceived of large international companies. I offer three reasons that the writers shy away from individual accountability. First, if ordinary people really read this kind of stuff, they might begin to feel threatened, and they might get politically involved and start to speak up for themselves. The Ivory Towerists loathe that. They want a world run by "experts" like themselves. Second, someone might ask about individual and local responsibility in poor countries. As in, what are they doing about it, besides waiting for the next handout, or the next bit of graft? Then, finally, they're great with the ideas, but poor in the execution. Either they haven't thought that far, cannot see that far, or don't want to let us, the unwashed, in on their Grand Plans.

This is a must read for those who look around and see world poverty and ask what we could do about it. This book is important because it represents a very powerful idea that is widely popular among academics and "anti-poverty" activists. We need to know what everyone is thinking in this area, and not just read stuff that we agree with.

Being a born again Christian..I LOVE everyone of ALL Faiths..I enjoyed reading the Book Choose Hope..

I have a friend whom is an SGI member...and I used to attend their meetings until a member decided I could not bring my Bible to the Meetings...So I am still welcome but not with my Bible???

God Bless You All!!

In "Jesus" Most Precious Name...

With Love...In Christ...

Eileen

Being a born again Buddhist..I LOVE everyone of ALL Faiths..I enjoyed reading the Book Choose Hope..

I have a friend whom is an Church member...and I used to attend their meetings until a member decided I could not bring my Buddhist manuscript to their Bible study Meetings...So I am still welcome but not with my Buddhist Manuscript???

May you be imparted with the widsom, courage and love of the Buddha!!

In Buddha's Most Precious Name...

With Love...and enlighned spirit...

Ieleen

Choose Hope: Your Role In Waging Peace In The Nuclear Age by David Krieger (President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation) and Daisaku Ikeda (President of the Soka Gakkai International and recipient of the 1983 United Nations Peace Award), is an uplifting, inspiring, and practical inquiry into what ordinary people can do to help eliminate the threat of nuclear war. Individual chapters address the critical importance of nongovernmental organizations, the future of the United Nations, the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and much, much more. Choose Hope is a highly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology and the resultant, globally engaging threat of nuclear warfare in these troubled times.

In Choose Peace, Johan Galtung, the founder of the International Peace Research Institute and currently a professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii, and Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist leader, explore the interface between Buddhism and nonviolent solutions to global conflict.

The two men share bitter personal memories of World War II. During the German occupation of Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp for his resistance activities. In Mr. Ikeda's case, his older brother died in combat, adding to the terrible anguish he felt during the war.

Far from abstract, their quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to the political agendas of today, such as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, fundamentalism, arms reduction, and the proliferation and supervision of nuclear technology, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping initiatives.

Presented as a dialogue between the two men, Choose Peace identifies sources of global violence and unrest and demonstrates the role of Buddhism in formulating peaceful solutions.

In Choose Peace, Johan Galtung, the founder of the International Peace Research Institute and currently a professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii, and Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist leader, explore the interface between Buddhism and nonviolent solutions to global conflict. The two men share bitter personal memories of World War II. During the German occupation of Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp for his resistance activities. In Mr. Ikeda's case, his older brother died in combat, adding to the terrible anguish he felt during the war.

Far from abstract, their quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to the political agendas of today, such as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, fundamentalism, arms reduction, and the proliferation and supervision of nuclear technology, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping initiatives.

Presented as a dialogue between the two men, Choose Peace identifies sources of global violence and unrest and demonstrates the role of Buddhism in formulating peaceful solutions.

In this book, "Choose Peace: A Dialogue Between Johan Galtung and Daisaku Ikeda," world-renowned professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii and founder of the International Peace Research Institute, Dr. Johan Galtung, and Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist scholar and current president of Soka Gakkai International, the world's largest Buddhist organization, explore the interface between Buddhist philosophy and nonviolent solutions to war and political conflict.

The two scholars share various painful memories of growing up during World War II. Mr. Ikeda suffered illness as well as the loss of his dear older brother who died in combat, adding to the anguish his family sufferred. In Dr. Galtung's case, during the Nazi occupation of his homeland, Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp in retaliation for his resistance activities.

Their shared quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to conflict resoulution today, including such hot topics as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, religious fundamentalism, the proliferation of nuclear arms, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping around the world.

"Choose Peace" is presented as a dialogue between these two scholars, and identifies the various sources of violence and unrest, while demonstrating the role of Buddhist philosophy in formulating solutions that will lead to lasting peace.

Ikeda is skilled at stating obvious platitudes. He is the leader of the SGI cult which professes to be a humanistic religion but is in truth a machine that grinds out worshippers of this ragingly insecure man who has made mega millions from his fanatical followers.

Spend your time on meditation and donate the money you would spend on this book to the needy.

Daisaku Ikeda is a prolific author who presents a Buddhist perspective on a vast array of topics. His message is that people have boundless creative potential for bringing about positive change. His works are always uplifting. Soka Education is no exception. It offers clear guidelines for educational reform. The focus is not on pedagogical strategies, but on fundamental issues such as the purpose of education, the qualities of great educators, causes and solutions of teen violence, and the need to foster global citizens. Where teachers, administrators, politicians, and parents apply the wisdom of this book, schools will become more humane places and young people will blossom.

The Japanese term "Soka" means creative, contributive living; Soka Education is education that empowers students, enabling them to lead happy, fulfilled lives. Ikeda objects to using schools to serve nationalistic or corporate ends. Japan did so throughout the past century, and is now suffering the consequences. To counter that trend, Ikeda has founded "Soka schools" in Japan (kindergarten through university) and elsewhere that are characterized by joyful, enthusiastic students; wise, affectionate teachers; and a prevailing belief that every student has a unique and important role to play in the world. I have visited many of those campuses; no experience has ever given me greater cause for optimism about the future.

The current thrust in the USA is to gear instruction toward raising standardized test scores. This is a step away from placing students' interests and needs first. In Soka Education, Ikeda calls for "a society that serves the essential needs of education." In contrast to this notion, American society, with politicians leading the fray, heaps blame and abuse on teachers. What's worse, the schools most in need of support-inner-city schools, for example-come under the harshest attacks. To counter the dark, conservative mood that holds sway in the USA and other countries, hopeful, practical prescriptions are needed. Soka Education provides these in abundance.

To take one example, Ikeda discusses the problem of juvenile delinquency. While the phenomenon results from an erosion of human bonds characteristic of our age, he says, educators can connect, life to life, with troubled youngsters and lead them on a path toward creative, rather than destructive, living:

"If these bonds are severed, the human spirit can only roam aimlessly in the pitch darkness of solitude. . . . It is the responsibility of adults to patiently restore the ability to communicate by listening to the voices of isolated children calling out for help from the darkness. There is a famous episode involving Socrates in which his influence on youth is described as being like an electric ray that stings those who touch it. He explains that he can electrify others because he is electrified himself. Similarly, teachers must constantly be creative if they are to evoke creativity in their students. This is an essential quality for educators. Most important is the teacher's attitude. Human interaction is the key" (pp. 74-75).

A sample of chapter titles: Reviving Education, Serving the Essential Needs of Education, Education Toward Global Citizenship, An Outspoken Advocate of Educational Reform, Humanity in Education, The Fight to Live a Creative Life.